Chapter 2: New Century (Epilogue)
After Ye Hao finished giving some instructions, he immediately scampered off.
He still had to find a way to contact the elves.
Then, he would lead them and the Elf Princess in a fair negotiation of love and goodwill.
As for the North Wind Duke, Ongel, with a grave expression, he pushed open the iron gate of the training grounds and strode towards the newly arrived “novice reinforcements” with the spirit of someone willing to go to hell if others couldn’t.
His retreating figure looked somewhat desolate.
It gave off the aura of a hero embarking on a journey of no return.
“Creak—”
The sound of the iron gate opening was the best signal.
Twenty thousand pairs of eyes turned to look in unison.
Ongel felt a chill run down his spine.
Although under the suppression of the Moonlight Sacred Well, he maintained his strength as a Sky Knight, these novice reinforcements were just ordinary people without any Qi.
However, even if he just stood there and let them hack at him, it would take half an hour!
“An NPC is here!”
“Holy cow! Holy cow! What a huge hammer, what a long beard, what a fierce aura!”
“We’ve heard before that the Cain Continent game has extremely high realism. I was already satisfied after seeing the modeling and experiencing the five senses technology, but looking at the lifelike eyes of this NPC, I’m starting to doubt if I’ve transmigrated to another world.”
All players are born with the appraisal technique.
Facing Ongel, who was walking towards them with a solemn and stern expression, the players quickly learned about this old knight using the appraisal technique.
“Ongel? Important hub of Emerald Fortress, guardian of Narvit Bastion, currently under the command of the King of Winter. Friendly faction… Level… Holy cow, level 71!”
“What level is the King of Winter again?”
When it came to the levels of these top NPCs, especially BOSS-class figures of their own faction, the players showed a strong interest.
“I heard an old player on the game forum say that the King of Winter is already level 74. He’s barely been seen cultivating, and his level increases incredibly fast…”
“I also heard he was the BOSS of the first game version a long time ago, but the first batch of players were too weak, and the official design’s first protagonist, Ye Hao, was quite foolish. They actually didn’t defeat him, turning a BOSS into a planar protagonist.”
“So why isn’t the King of Winter our guide NPC?”
Another player, who was wearing his underwear on his head, with the ID “Underpants Superman,” asked.
His expression was somewhat dejected, and anyone could tell he was a fervent fan of the King of Winter.
“Our player status upon arrival is that of new recruits supporting Emerald Fortress. The King of Winter, being the King and the commander of the entire Emerald Fortress, would never come to greet us personally. It’s like when you saw the leader during your elementary school military training, but they were actually just a squad leader or platoon leader in the army.”
This player was Rune, who obtained his game qualification from “Nobody Does Human Things.” His analysis sounded very reasonable and was quickly agreed upon by most players.
[The King of Winter’s favorability towards you +10]
Rune: ⊙ω⊙???
In short.
The question of the King of Winter not being the guide NPC was brushed aside.
Following that, the players’ attention was completely focused on the North Wind Duke, Ongel.
“I am Ongel, the guardian of Narvit Bastion, and your instructor. Starting today, you will undergo my training. Within one month, I will do my best to train you into regular soldiers who can hold a weapon without their legs trembling and their hands shaking!”
Standing at the entrance of the training grounds, there was no place to stand.
After looking around, Ongel could only leap onto a dilapidated privy.
Fortunately, his voice was loud, and he didn’t show any signs of fear. Infused with Qi, he naturally exuded a certain presence, which momentarily silenced the chaotic and chattering “new recruits.”
The Elf siege back then was much more spectacular. Although the elves were few in number, their arrows and magic rained down, almost obscuring the entire sky. The gaze of a mere twenty thousand people was nothing.
However, the moment he finished speaking, the normally quiet training grounds became like a pot of oil being doused with water, instantly boiling over. The clamor shook the sand and stones on the ground, and Ongel’s blood pressure instantly soared to its limit.
“Silence!!!”
“Boom!”
The Qi of a Sky Knight spread out, lifting Ongel’s body, and also shattering the privy beneath him.
Old feces splattered everywhere, coating the novice players who were close by.
The entire world became clean.
Except for a few who were still dry-heaving.
“His Majesty said that as long as these novice soldiers are given missions, they will quiet down… It’s strange, but… but since His Majesty said it, it must make sense!”
Ongel suppressed his discomfort, cleared his throat, and repeated what the King of Winter had said, as if reciting lines:
“As new recruits, you lack the foundation for learning powerful skills, nor do you possess the physical fitness to become powerful professionals. Therefore, you must train yourselves from scratch!”
“I understand! Isn’t it just mining? Old Beard, don’t drag it out. Just tell us where the pickaxe is. Don’t say anything else. Ten baskets a day. Dig until you die if you’re not dead!”
“I understand too! Is there also tree-cutting work?”
“Do we also have to build roads?”
A few players at the front, with their arms crossed, chattered incessantly, acting as if they were very knowledgeable.
“You are soldiers, not slaves! You don’t need to mine or cut trees. That’s work for captives and serfs!”
Ongel really couldn’t understand how these new recruits’ brains were wired. These were clearly the dirtiest and most tiring jobs, yet they seemed to look forward to them.
“Although you will also need to pick up tools, I will not have you do any meaningless work! You only need to help me repair the fortress.”
Ongel took a deep breath.
He finally managed to say those shameless words.
Having novice soldiers repair the fortress…
In reality, it wasn’t much better than digging pits and cutting trees.
Although Ongel didn’t know why the King of Winter would do this, he was a general who was good at thinking, which was also the reason he had been able to block the elf army’s attacks time and again.
In just a few seconds.
A flash of lightning crossed his eyes, and he suddenly understood the King of Winter’s intention.
“As expected of His Majesty, he has already thought of this step!”
He sighed in admiration, his heart filled with excitement. The King of Winter’s idea was bizarre and groundbreaking, but one thing was undeniable: it was incredibly useful.
Having understood the King of Winter’s intention, Ongel’s tone became more emotional as he spoke, no longer so stiff and wooden.
He waved his hand, clenched his fist, and said with passion:
“This is Emerald Fortress, where you will live for a period of time. In the process of repairing the fortress, you will gradually learn about its weaknesses, where you can hide, how to evade elven arrows, and what kind of structures can allow you to take cover and withstand the high-level magic of elven mages!”
“After all, you will be fighting here. You must be familiar with every road, every沟壑, and all of this must begin with repairing the fortress.”
